Product Description

This title offers guidance and advice on all the key areas of study: reading and writing philosophy, taking notes, seminar preparation and participation, using resources effectively."Doing Philosophy" provides a practical guide to studying philosophy for undergraduate students. Addressing the often problematic transition from A-levels to studying philosophy at university, the book offers guidance on: reading and analysing philosophical texts; preparing for and participating in seminars; choosing essay topics; constructing arguments and avoiding plagiarism; using libraries, the internet and other resources; and, technical terms, forms of expression and logical notation."Doing Philosophy" outlines the difficulties and challenges faced by students and the exciting scope of the subject as a consequence. The book uses examples of philosophical texts from a wide range of authors to explore strategies that enable the student to develop critical reading skills. The book also offers advice on taking notes, analysing arguments, using resources effectively, and writing philosophical essays.Concise and accessible, the book equips the student with the tools needed to succeed at undergraduate level, presenting a variety of practical strategies for tackling tasks that a first-year student will inevitably encounter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199850 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

About the Author
George MacDonald Ross is director of the Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Leeds, UK. In 2006 he was voted one of England's top 50 university teachers by the Higher Education Academy and became a National Teaching Fellow. Clare Saunders is Subject Co-ordinator for Philosophy at the Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. She has a PhD in Philosophy and has taught a wide range of philosophy courses at the University of Sunderland and the University of Durham, UK. David Mossley is Information Manager and Subject Co-ordinator at the Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. He has a PhD in Philosophy and has taught a wide range of philosophy courses at the University of Durham and Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. Danielle Lamb is Resource Development Officer at the Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. She has an MA in Philosophy from the University of Leeds, UK, and has tutored undergraduates on a range of philosophy modules.

Customer Reviews

First-year philosophers, buy this book!
This is an excellent book, and I'll definitely be advising my first-year Philosophy students to buy it. *Doing Philosophy* basically tells the student beginning philosophy at university everything they need to know. The topics include finding resources, reading philosophy, plagiarism, referencing, taking notes, seminar discussions, and more. In particular, I think the chapter on writing philosophy - and especially the examples of essay questions, together with advice on how to tackle them - will be hugely useful. It's easy to forget just how different writing a philosophy essay is to anything else most beginning philosophy students have done; even (perhaps especially) those who have studied philosophy at A-level. The authors guide the student through each question, showing them how to find and filter relevant information, how to make sure they stick to the question, and how to maintain a properly philosophical approach to the topic. I'm sure beginning students - and their teachers - will be very grateful.